Fuse mechanism



June 28, 1927.

'IIIIIIIIII H. G. BAXTER FUSE MECHANISM Filed Jan.20. 1921 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. a

HAROLD G. BAXTER, O1 BALDWDI', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO, WESTINGHOUSE ELEC-'IBIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ru'sn MECHANISM.

n Application filed January 20, 1921. Serial No. 438,572.

serves as a closure for openings provided in the panel cover oppositethe fuse receptacles and wherein the fuse supports engage the standardfuse clips usually mounted upon the panelboard. By reason of thisconstruction, the fuses are removed with the carrier or closure memberwithout the use of tools and are, consequently, disconnected fromcontact with the live fuse clips before access to the fuses isobtainable. The fuses ma therefore, be conveniently replaced wit outdanger of the operator coming in contact with the live terminals.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fuse carrier, havin theabove characteristics, wherein simp e one-piece fuse clips are mountedon the inner side of the carrier and are provided with convolutionsconstituting a receptacle for the fuse and a contact portion similar inshape and dimensions to the shape and dimensions of a standard cartridgefuse for engaging standard fuse clips.

It has been customary to mount the fuse clips on a panel board oppositethe openings provided in the cover for the purpose of permitting accessto the fuses for inspection or replacement. In order to replace a fuse,a tool, commonly known as fuse tongs, was usually inserted through theopenings in the cover.. In this method of operation, there is alwaysdanger of the tongs engaging one of the live fuse clips or terminals.This unsafe method of changing the fuses is avoided by the use of fusecarriers made and operated in accordance with my invention.

Another object of the invention is to pro-' ing the fuse carrier indisengaged relation to the fuse c1ips;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,showing the fuse carrier in operative engagement with the fuse clips.

Referring to the drawings, 3 represents a portion of the insulating baseor panel upon which various electrical fixtures, such as switches andfuses, are mounted. The front of the panel is protected by means of acover 4 that is mounted in spaced relation with respect to the panel orbase 3 and between which the usual electrical equipment is mounted.

The cover, which is usually made of sheet metal, is provided with anopening or openings 5 disposed opposite the fuse-clip members 6. Thefuse-clip members 6 are of standard construction and each com rises asingle piece of metal stamped in B-shape having resilient branches 7 socurved as to form a substantially circular lamp in which tridg'e fuseare inserted. Two fuse clips are usually mounted upon the base 3 bymeans of screws and are disposed in spaced relation in such a mannerthat they receive a support and a cartridge fuse between them. It is theusual practice to arrange the sets of fuse clips side by side upon thepanel, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

It has been customary to insert the fuse members in the clips 7 and toclose the opening 5 in the cover by a door that normally closes theopening and precludes access to the fuse members. This constructionnecessithe cylindrical contact members of a car tates the use of fusetongs for replacing the.

tongs and, with this object in view, I have provided a fuse carrier 8which comprises a block 9, made of insulating material, which isprovided with a handle 10 that may be gripped by the operator when it isdesired to change the fuses. The dimensions of the carrier are such thatit completely closes the opening 5 when in operative position, asillustrated in Fig. 2.

The inner side of the carrier 8 is provided with two sets offuse-supporting clips 11, each clip comprising a single piece of sheetmetal of U-shape, the branches thereof being provided with convolutionsconstituting the supporting members 11 are in operative en agement withthe clip members 6. In order to replace a fuse, it is necessary merelyto withdraw the carrier 8 from the cover, which operation, disconnectsthe fuses from the fuse clip members 6. The fuses may then beconveniently replaced and the carrier again inserted. I

It will be obvious that the fuses 15 may be inserted between the freeends of the branches, forming the plug 14, and that two fuses may beplaced in each clip in order to increase the capacity of the fuses inthe circuit. The construction is extremely simple, it being practicableto readil mold the carrier member of plastic insu ating material, andthe fuse supporting members 11 may be stamped from sheet metal bysimple, inexpensive stamping operations.

While I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of myinvention, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may bemade in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit andsec e of the invention, as set forth in the appen ed claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a panel board, the combination with aboard having a fuse clip thereon and a cover having an opening op sitethe fuse clip, of a carrier forclosing t e opening and provided with aclip for yieldingly and releasably supporting a fuse thereon, the saidclip having portions extending beyond the fuse for on aging the interiorof the fuse clip on the oard for preventing release of the fuse from thecarrier when the carrier is in closed position.

2. A fuse carrier comprisin an insulating block and a clip havng yieltling arms for gripping a cartndge fuse between them, the said armshaving ielding extensions formed in conformity with the contact terminalof a standard fuse and adapted to yieldingly engage the interior of acartridge fuse clip for supporting the said fuse in operative relationwith the standard clip.

3. The combination with a pair of separate standard fuse receptaclesdisposed in spaced relation, of a fuse carrier havin fuse-supportingmembers disposed in spaced relation thereon for yieldin 1y engaging thesaid fuse receptacles whereby the carrier is supported in apredeterminedrelation with the receptacles, the said supportin members being providedwith sockets for etachably receiving and supporting fuse elements inelectrical engagement therewith.

4. The combination with a standard receptacle for a cartridge fusehaving a pair.

of yielding contact arms for supporting a standard fuse between them, ofa carrier for a cartridge fuse having contact arms for gri ping a fusebetween them and havin yie ding contact portions extending beyond thefuse and conforming in contour to that of a standard fuse terminal, foran aging the interior of the receptacle, where y the contact arms of thecarrier are pressed inwardly into conductive contact with the terminalof the fuse, and whereby the carrier is detachabl supported in apredetermined position wit respect to the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this eleventhday of January 1921.

HAROLD G. BAXTER.

